Free cash is always a good thing. However, finding opportunities to earn money quickly is easier said than done.
The good news is that there are apps that offer an instant sign-up bonus. These can give your bank account a boost without requiring much effort.
Although instant sign-up bonuses won’t replace your day job, they can help add some extra cash to your wallet. Here are some of the best apps that offer an instant sign-up bonus.
Apps with Instant Sign-Up Bonuses
When you are on the hunt for instant sign-up bonus apps, the goal is to earn the biggest bonus in the least amount of time. Luckily, it’s easy to earn the instant welcome outlined below.
As you explore the following options, keep in mind that these bonuses are in order of biggest to smallest. Also, it’s important to note that these bonuses can change depending on your location and when you sign up.
1. BeFrugal
BeFrugal is a cash back rewards site that offers up to 40% cash back at over 5,000 stores. According to BeFrugal, you’ll find the highest cash back payouts if you use their site.
When you sign up, you’ll score free money instantly in the form of a $10 bonus. Then, if you want to continue to grow your earnings, all you have to do is access your favorite store through the BeFrugal shopping portal.
Once you complete purchases through the portal, you’ll earn cash back. The amount varies based on the store, but there are considerable savings to be found.
Some of the stores you can shop at to get free money include:
- Amazon
- CVS
- Macy’s
- Walmart
- Target
- The Home Depot
- And more
As you build up your cash back, you can have it sent to you via your PayPal account, Venmo, check, direct deposit or gift card.
This is one of the best apps with sign up bonuses if you want to get money instantly.
Sign-up bonus: $10
Trustpilot score: 4.5 out of 5
Pros
- Thousands of stores
- Easy payout options
- No minimum payout threshold
Cons
- No in-store cash back options
- Takes time to receive cash back
2. Opinion Inn
Opinion Inn is a survey website that offers a $10 sign-up bonus to get you started. This means that you can get free money instantly.
After you sign up and get an account, you’ll get your $10. But the earning potential doesn’t stop there. Opinion Inn also offers paid surveys so you can earn free money.
Although you can earn up to $100 per survey, the bulk of the surveys pay around $3 to $5.
When you’ve hit $25 in earnings, you’ve reached the minimum cash out level and can get PayPal or gift cards.
If you want to earn free cash online, this is one of the best ways to get money instantly.
Sign-up bonus: $10
Trustpilot score: 4.5 out of 5
Pros
- Earn with paid surveys
- PayPal payouts
Cons
- High redemption threshold
- Wide range of survey payments
3. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a get-paid-to site that offers a $10 sign-up bonus. It’s one of the most popular ways to earn free money online.
After you sign up and get an account, there are plenty of ways to earn Swagbucks, which translate into gift cards.
You can earn by:
- Answering surveys
- Watching videos
- Shopping online
- Searching the internet
- Playing various games
- Testing new products
- Completing online tasks
Most of these tasks should take less than 15 minutes. However, you might find the available surveys somewhat repetitive.
As you earn with Swagbucks, you can redeem the points for gift cards or cash via PayPal so you can get money instantly.
If you are redeeming a gift card, you can have a balance as low as $1. But, when you redeem via PayPal, you’ll need to have a balance of at least $25.
Want a closer look at Swagbucks? Take a look at our full review.
Sign-up bonus: $10
Trustpilot score: 4.3 out of 5
Pros
- Many ways to earn
- Low gift card payout threshold
- Can sign up at age 13
Cons
- Time-consuming to earn points
- High threshold for PayPal cash
4. InboxDollars
InboxDollars offers plenty of ways to earn extra cash while also offering a $5 registration bonus. This means you can get money instantly.
When you sign up and get an account with InboxDollars, you’ll find many other ways to earn extra money.
A few of these options to earn free money include:
- Watching videos
- Answering surveys
- Taking the time to play games
The amount you’ll make per task varies, but it’s usually in the range of $0.10 to $5.
When you want to cash out, you’ll receive your funds via PayPal, Visa or gift card. However, you’ll need at least $15 in your account to cash out.
Curious about InboxDollars and how you can use it to get more money? Find out more in our full review.
Sign-up bonus: $5
Trustpilot score: 4.1 out of 5
Pros
- Fast selling process
- No shipping costs
Cons
- Several cities don’t have a store
- Potentially low buying prices
5. PointClub
PointClub helps you earn money by sharing your opinion. It offers a 5,000-point welcome bonus that equates to $5. That is free money instantly in your pocket.
With PointClub, you can earn points by taking surveys or playing games. Then, you can cash out your points for gift cards or free PayPal cash.
However, you’ll need 25,000 points (equivalent to $25) before you can cash out.
Members can also receive tokens that can be used to enter PointClub’s $1 million sweepstakes. This presents another way to earn cash.
Sign-up bonus: $5
Trustpilot score: 1.4 out of 5
Pros
- $1 million sweepstakes
- Could win other prizes
Cons
- Low Trustpilot score
- High redemption minimum
6. Ibotta
Ibotta is a cash back app that lets you save on grocery shopping and more. It offers a welcome bonus that can vary based on your location and when you sign up. Typically the bonus ranges from $5 to 20.
What’s extra nice about Ibotta is that you can tap into cash back coupons for any brand. As a result, you can stretch your dollars even further by buying a generic brand and stacking those savings with a coupon.
You’ll need a minimum balance of $20 to cash out via PayPal or a gift card of your choice.
Want to learn more about Ibotta and how you can use it to get more money? Check out our full review.
Sign-up bonus: Varies (generally $5 to $20)
Trustpilot score: 3.2 out of 5
Pros
- Easy savings
- Stack savings
Cons
- Takes time to receive credits
- $20 cash out minimum
7. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys offers a 100-point sign-up bonus. When it’s time to cash out, that equates to a $1 reward. This is free money instantly in your bank account.
The company offers online surveys that will ask you for feedback about services and products that you already use.
Beyond surveys, you can earn points to get free money through:
- Polls
- Promotional codes
- Referrals
Before you commit to a survey, you’ll know how many points are tied to the survey. This can help you determine if the opportunity is worth your time.
When you reach 500 points, you can cash out via PayPal, direct deposit to your bank account or gift card. Plus, you also have the option to donate your earnings to charity.
Want to learn more about Branded Surveys? Check out our full review.
Sign-up bonus: $1
Trustpilot score: 4.3 out of 5
Pros
- Get paid for surveys
- Easy to use
Cons
- Low survey payments
- High redemption minimum
8. Toluna Influencers
Toluna Influencers lets you share your opinion on products and services. When you sign up, you can earn a 500 welcome bonus.
However, while this is free money instantly, this bonus is worth less than $1. This makes it one of the lowest bonus opportunities on our list.
Site users complete surveys to earn points. Survey payouts can range from 15 to 50,000 points, depending on the survey length. The platform also recently added games, and, in certain cases, playing games can earn you points.
Users can also get bonus points for referring their friends using a referral code.
Points can be redeemed for rewards that are described as vouchers. That said, it’s important to keep in mind that they expire after 16 months.
Sign-up bonus: Less than $1
Trustpilot score: N/A
Pros
- Some surveys have large rewards
- Referral bonus available
Cons
- Redemption options aren’t clear
- Points expire
9. LifePoints
LifePoints offers many ways to earn free money. It even provides a sign-up bonus of 10 free points. That equates to way less than a dollar when redeemed.
If you want to earn more points with LifePoints, you can do so through online surveys and polls. Although it will take time to build up points through this app, it could be a fun opportunity.
You can redeem your points for $10 via PayPal if you have 1,200 points. Alternately, you can redeem 550 points for a $5 Amazon gift card.
Want to learn more about what LifePoints has to offer? Check out our full review.
Sign-up bonus: Less than $1
Trustpilot score: 4.1 out of 5
Pros
- Low redemption minimum
- Short surveys
Cons
- Must qualify for each survey
- Points expire after three years
Apps with Action-Based Sign-Up Bonuses
There are other apps that offer welcome bonuses so you can get free money. However, they do require a little extra effort to cash in on the reward.
In order of most lucrative to smallest bonus, here are some sign-up bonus apps with welcome offers that are worth checking out.
10. Aspiration
Aspiration is a bank that has a focus on green initiatives. It offers a high-yield savings account and charges fewer fees than traditional banks.
When you open an Aspiration Spend & Save account, you’ll have the chance to earn a $150 sign-up bonus. In order to finalize your bonus, you’ll need to spend $1,000 from your account within 60 days.
While this isn’t free money instantly, it is a huge bonus.
Depending on your financial situation, this might be a reasonable amount of money to spend in 60 days. For example, if you know you have a big purchase coming up, Aspiration’s sign-up bonus is a great opportunity to cash in on your spending.
However, if this is beyond your budget, you might not want to spring for this bonus.
You can read our Aspiration Bank review to learn more about the bank and what it offers.
Sign-up bonus: $150
Trustpilot score: 4.2 out of 5
Pros
- Competitive APYs
- Relatively big bonus
Cons
- Must spend to get bonus
- No physical branch locations
11. Tada
Tada provides a way for you to get cash back on groceries. It also offers a $20 welcome bonus. However, you must agree to meet certain bonus requirements to get this free money.
With Tada, you can save money by getting up to 20% off your grocery purchases. This includes items like eggs, milk, detergent and more.
Beyond grocery stores, Tada even works with brands like:
- Amazon
- Home Depot
- Walmart
- Macy’s
- Expedia
- And more
You can redeem your earnings for PayPal payouts or gift cards to over 80 retailers. The minimum cash-out amount is $10.
Sign-up bonus: $20
Trustpilot score: 4.2 out of 5
Pros
- Save on groceries
- Lower redemption minimum
Cons
- Need to scan receipt
- Must meet bonus requirements
12. MyPoints
MyPoints is a platform that pays you to complete various tasks. It offers a $10 sign-up bonus with your first purchase.
Once you’ve signed up, you may decide to take part in one of the many opportunities that MyPoints offers.
You can earn free money by:
- Earning cash back while shopping online
- Sharing your opinion through surveys
- Watching videos
- Reading your email
- Searching the internet
- Playing games
As you build points, you can cash out your earnings via Visa gift cards or Amazon gift cards.
Want to learn more about MyPoints? Check out our full review.
Sign-up bonus: $10
Trustpilot score: 4.4 out of 5
Pros
- Cash back opportunities
- Easy to use
- Several ways to earn
13. Rakuten
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) gives you cash back on your purchases as long as you shop online through your Rakuten account. New users can earn a $10 bonus after spending at least $25 in the first 90 days.
With Rakuten, you can get anywhere from 1% to 40% back on your purchases when you shop online. The platform partners with over 2,500 stores.
You can also get free money for referring friends through your own unique referral code, giving you another way to earn money beyond online shopping.
Every three months, Rakuten will send you your cash back as long as you’ve accumulated at least $5 in your account. Payments are sent via check or PayPal.
For more information about Rakuten and how you can use it to get cash back on your online purchases, check out our full review.
Sign-up bonus: $10
Trustpilot score: 4.0 out of 5
Pros
- Get paid to shop
- Referral bonuses
Cons
- Restricted payout schedule
14. Cash App
Cash App offers a $5 referral bonus to new customers. Unfortunately, you’ll need to send at least $5 to a friend within 14 days of opening the account to access this free money.
Essentially, Cash App acts as a digital wallet. You can use it to send money to friends. Even though it has mixed reviews, it could be an easy way to score $5.
Want to learn more about Cash App? Check out our full review.
Sign-up bonus: $5
Trustpilot score: 1.2 out of 5
Pros
- Easy to use
- Low cash out threshold
Cons
- Low customer ratings
- Must complete a transaction
15. Zap Surveys
With Zap Surveys, you can earn a $3 sign-up bonus once you complete your first survey.
This site lets you earn free cash by:
- Taking surveys
- Shopping
- Playing games
- And more
Redemption options include free gift cards, PayPal and more. With over $50 million rewarded to members already, this site is worth checking out if you need a little extra money to pad your bank account.
Sign-up bonus: $3
Trustpilot score: 2.3 out of 5
Pros
- Multiple redemption options
- Many ways to earn
Cons
- Parts of site don’t work
- Low Trustpilot score
FAQs
Want to learn more about apps that offer sign-up bonuses? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions to help you choose the right opportunity for you.
No. Not all apps with welcome bonuses are legit. You’ll want to do your due diligence before signing up with any app to ensure it’s not a scam.
Luckily, all of the apps on our list are legit, so you don’t have to worry about getting scammed.
Yes, there are online investment platform apps that offer free stock when you sign up.
However, this list specifically focuses on apps that offer cash and gift cards as opposed to shares in stocks.
Consider how much money you are hoping to get as well as how much time you can spend getting the welcome bonus.
If you need something instant, you’ll likely get a smaller bonus. However, if you can complete a task, you’ll likely receive a more lucrative payout.
If the app you are using offers a referral bonus, make sure to provide your family and friends with your unique referral link to get credit.
Summary
An instant sign-up bonus can be a way to make money fast and give your cash flow a bit of a boost. When combined, the bonuses on this list can add up.
While some opportunities require a little extra effort or spending, others just stipulate that you sign up. As you evaluate the options, it’s important to read the fine print and make sure to choose the best bonus for you.
